Arithmetic cards and game utilizing such

ABSTRACT

A new and improved card specifies arithmetical relationships in a manner permitting a new and improved arithmetic game to be played for education or entertainment using a plurality of such cards.

United States Patent 15 3,661,392 Abney 1 ay 9, 1972 {54] ARITHMETICCARDS AND GAME References Ciled UTILIZING SUCH UNITED STATES PATENTS[72] inventor: Thomas Abney, 61mm Street, 1,598,450 8/1926 Ritter..35/31 0 x bl H C t T 77338 1,699,629 1 1929 Phifer ..35/31 G X1,766,465 6/1930 Snelling ..35/31 0 221 F1160; Aug. 10, 1970 2,159,5635/1939 McNaney ..273/152.1 [2| Appl- No: 62,335 PrinmryE.\'un1ir1er-H.S. Skogquist Attorne vPravel, Wilson & Matthews 1521 u.s.c1..273/152.1,35/31G,273/152.7R [57] ABSTRACT 51 1n1.c1. ..A63f 1/02 I 156Field of Search ..3s/31 G, 70, 71,69, 31 c, A new and Card sPecfiesrelmmsmps 35/31 F; 273/l52.1, 152.7 R

in a manner permitting a new and improved arithmetic game to be playedfor education or entertainment using a plurality of such cards.

5 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure bu kb ARITIIMETIC CARDS AND GAME UTILIZINGSUCK-ll BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of the Invention The presentinvention relates'to arithmetic cards and games utilizing such cards.

2. Description of the Prior Art There is no known prior art toapplicants knowledge which relates to the arithmetic cards and game ofthe present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the present invention provides aplurality of arithmetic cards, each card being assigned to a valuespecified by an operator integer and an arithmetic operation, such asadd, subtract, multiply and divide, performable by such particularinteger upon a plurality of other, or operand, integers. A face of eachplaying card is divided into a plurality of fields, one field allocatedfor each of the integers. Each field is further divided into a pluralityof regions, one region for the particular arithmetic operationperformable by the operator integer upon the operand integer defined bysuch field, and bearing indicia specifying the result of such arithmeticoperation, with other regions in each field bearing indicia specifyingthe result of other mathematical operations performable by the operatorinteger upon the operand integer of such field. Anaperture is formed ineach card at the location of the region and field for the particularoperator integer and arithmetic operation assigned to such playing card.

The cards are adapted to play an arithmetic game for education orentertainment purposes in which the cards are dealt to a plurality ofplayers. The players thereafter select a desired card from their handand play such card. The score for a particular play is determined by thevalue of the card played and is indicated by the indicia visible throughthe aperture of the card played in such play, and the winner of the gameis determined on the basis of total points accumulated during the playof the cards.

The cards may also be used as training aids in education, particularlyin teaching arithmetic and the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improvedarithmetic card.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improvedarithmetic game for educational or entertainment purposes.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improvedtraining aid for teaching arithmetic.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying sheet of drawingscontains plan views of arithmetic cards of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawing, the letter Crefers generally to an arithmetic card of the present invention, whichis used in the arithmetic game of the present invention for educationand entertainment, as will be evident later.

A card 20, which may be made from plastic, cardboard, celluloid,heavy-duty paper or the like is divided into a plurality of informationbearing segments or fields F, arranged in four columns of three fields Feach, on one face of such card 20. The card is assigned a value definedby an identifying operator integer 6" and mathematical operation ADD"and bears an indication 30 of such integer and indications 30a of suchmathematical operation.

Each of the fields F is allocated to an operand integer, as illustratedon the card 20 by the labelling integers l through 12" being eachassigned one field F beginning at the upper leftmost field F and endingat the lower rightmost field F.

The labelling integers l through l 2" are included on the card 20 forthe purposes of illustration and do not appear on the arithmetic cardsof the present invention in the positions shown, as will be evidentlater.

Each of the fields F includes a plurality of regions R, including anaddition region A, a subtraction region S, a multiplication region M,and a division region D, each of which regions R contains an indicia 40which may be a code, printing or the like, defining the result of acorresponding mathematical operation (add, subtract, multiply anddivide, respectively) perfonned upon the operand integer of the field Fby the operator integer portion of the value of such card. Thus, themultiplication regions M in the fields F on the card 20 bear indicia 40defining the result of multiplying the operand integer of each of suchfields F, as represented by each of the respective labelling integers lthrough 12, by the operator integer 6 assigned such card, or 6, 12, 18,24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54, 60, 66 and 72, respectively. Similarly, each ofthe addition regions A contains indicia 40 defining the result of addingthe operator integer 6 of such card to the operand integers l through12; the subtraction regions S contain indicia 40 defining the absolutevalue of the result of subtracting the operator integer 6 of such cardfrom the operand integers 1 through 12; and the division region Dcontains indicia 40 defining the result of dividing the larger of eitherthe operator integer or operand integer by the smaller of such integers.The division operation of dividing the smaller integer into the largerinteger is preferably used, in order to reduce the number of cumbersomefractions in order to simplify scorekeeping for the game, as will bemore evident later. However, the division region D may bear indicia 40defining the result of dividing the operand integer by the operatorinteger to give the correct operational answer when the cards are usedfor education purposes.

An aperture or window 35 is formed in the location in the card C in theaddition region A of the 6" field F, corresponding to the value of thecard as identified by the operator integer 30 and the additivemathematical operation indicated by addition symbols 30a in order toplay the mathematical game of the present invention.

Cards C-1, C-2, C-3 and C-4 further illustrate arithmetic cards of thepresent invention and include a Multiply One value card C-l identifiedby indicators 31 and 31a, specifying an operator integer l and amultiplicative mathematical operation, respectively, and having anaperture 35a formed at the location of the multiplication region M ofthe field F for operator integer 1 ofthe value of the card, and bearingindicia 40 in each of the other regions R of the field F defining theresult of the mathematical operation (add, subtract, multiply or divide)specified for such region when such operation is performed by theoperator integer l indicated at 31 upon the operand integers 1 through12, of such fields F.

The Add One value card C-2 is identified by indicators 32 and 32aspecifying an operator integer l and an additive mathematical operation,respectively, and has an aperture 35b formed at the location of theaddition region A of the field F for operator integer l, and bearsindicia 40 in each of the other regions R of the fields F defining theresult of the mathematical operation (add, subtract, multiply or divide)specified for such region when such operation is performed by theoperator integer 1" indicated at 32 upon the operand integers 1 through12 of such fields F.

The Subtract One value card 0-3 is identified by indicators 33 and 33aspecifying an operator integer l and a subtractive mathematicaloperation, respectively, and has an aperture 350 formed at the locationof the subtraction region S of the field F for operator integer 1, andbears indicia 40 in each of the other regions R of the fields F definingthe result of the mathematical operation (add, subtract, multiply ordivide) for such region when such operation is performed by the operatorinteger 1 indicated at 33 upon the operand integers 1 through 12 of suchfields F.

The Divide One" value card C-4 is identified by indicators 34 and 34aspecifying an operator integer 1 and a divisive mathematical operation,respectively, and has an aperture 35d formed at the location of thedivision region D of the field F for operator integer l, and bearsindicia 40 in each of the other regions R ofthe fields F defining theresult of the mathematical operation (add, subtract, multiply or divide)specified for such region when the operation is performed by theoperator integer l indicated at 34 upon the operand integers 1 through12 for such fields F.

ln a like manner, arithmetic cards, assigned values defined by each ofthe other operator integers 2" to l2 and each of the mathematicaloperations defined by the regions R, are formed and have an aperture 35formed in the regionR allocated to the value assigned to the particulararithmetic card in the manner previously set forth.

ln the operation of the invention, the players desiring to play thegame, who may be two or more students learning basic mathematics, orchildren or adults playing for amusement or entertainment, shuffle andarrange a deck of cards C in a random sequence and deal such cards tothe players, with the face of the card C bearing the informationpreviously set forth concealed from view of the players. Alternatively,the cards are separated into groups in accordance with the types ofmathematical operations, and the cards of each group are randomlyarranged into a plurality of sets equal in number to the number ofplayers, and dealt to the players so that each player has an equalnumber of cards for each type mathematical operation.

The first player, who may be chosen by a coin-flip or other suitablemethod, plays a first arithmetic card from the cards dealt to him byplacing the card on a playing table with the information containing faceshown in the drawings visible to the other players. Since no cards havebeen previously played, the value of his play is zero and no indiciaappears in the window 35 of the first card played. If desired, the firstplayer may be awarded a predetermined point score, for example 3, forhis play, or he may be awarded no score, depending on the rules agreedupon by the players.

The second player then selects an arithmetic card C from those he hasbeen dealt and plays his card by superimposing such card on the card Cpreviously played. The value of the play, or the point score awarded tothe second player, is determined in part by the value of the card playedand is illustrated by the indicia of the previously played card visiblethrough the aperture or window 35 in the card played by the secondplayer. For example, an Add One" card C-2 superimposed on the arithmeticcard C-l, bearing an operator integer of one, gives a point score oftwo, since adding one to a previously played one" card which has a valueof one, equals two and is shown by an indicia of two" on the card at theAdd One" region thereof, visible through the aperture 35b of the card Cll.

The third player superimposes a desired arithmetic card C from those inhis hand and plays the card C by superimposing such card C, for examplean Add Six" card, on the card played by the second player, anddetermines the value of his play, or the point score he is to beawarded, by examining the indicia visible through the aperture 35, inthis instance a point score of seven, since adding six to one gives avalue ofseven as shown by an indicia of seven on the card C2 visiblethrough the aperture 35 of the card C when such card C is superimposedon the card C-2.

Since the point score awarded is dependent in part on the card played bythe preceding player, and since the play of a card with a high operatorinteger by one player enables the next subsequent player to create ahigh score utilizing such high operator integer, play of a particularcard requires an analysis and determination of possible mathematicaloperations performable upon the operator integer of the card beingplayed at a particular time, creating an entertaining, interesting andamusing game, while also training and teaching students in mentalmanipulation of integers in mathematical operations such as addition,multiplication, division, subtraction and the like.

Play of the game continues in the manner set forth above with eachplayer in sequence choosing and playing a selected card and determiningthe value of his score by inspection of the indicia of the previouslyplayed card visible through the aperture 35 in the card he had played.

A suitable card holding tray into which the cards are inserted as theyare played may be provided to insure that the aperture of the cardplayed is properly superimposed upon the previously played card.

The winner of the game may be the player obtaining the highest score ina particular deal of the cards C, or the first player to attain acertain point total, or other suitable methods.

It should be understood that the number and value of the operator andoperand integers set forth in the preferred embodiment is merelyillustrative, and that numerous variations and adaptations of suchintegers in number and value as well as the mathematical operationsperformable thereon are suitable for use with the arithmetic cards andgame of the present invention. Also, numerous variations in the dealingand playing sequence of such cards may be used in playing the game ofthe present invention. For example, the cards may be dealt andthereafter played by chance, with each player playing a card with theoperation and integer of such card unknown to the players until suchcard is played.

Furthermore, the arithmetic cards of the present invention may be usedas training aids for education purposes. A first arithmetic cardspecifying an operator integer and arithmetic operation as indicated at30 and 30a is exhibited to the students, but having an indicia 40specifying the result of such mathematical operation performed by suchoperator integer on an unknown integer visible to the student throughthe aperture 35.

The student must determine the operand integer based upon his knowledgeof the operator integer, mathematical operation, and result. After thestudent has given his answer, removal of the card superimposed on thecard to unknown contents allows the student to check his answer, sincethe unknown operand integer will be equal to the operator integer of theunknown card whose contents are now visible to the student.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention areillustrative and explanatory thereof, and various changes in the size,shape, and materials as well as in the details of the illustratedconstruction may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

1 claim:

1; An arithmetic game played for education and entertainment,comprising:

a plurality of arithmetic card means, each of said card means having avalue specified by an operator integer and a mathematical operation, andfurther having a plurality of operand integers, and further beingdivided into a plurality of fields, each of said fields allocatedrespectively to one of said plurality of operand integers and saidoperator integer, and each of said fields being further divided into aplurality of regions, each of said regions allocated to a mathematicaloperation performable by the operator integer upon the operand integerallocated to said field ad containing indicia defining the result ofsuch mathematical operation, and further including an aperture in thefield of the mathematical operation of the region of said card allocatedto such operator integer, whereby the players of the game sequentiallysuperimpose a preselected one of said card means on the card meanspreviously played and determine the value and score for the play byinspecting the indicia visible through the aperture in the preselectedcard most recently played.

2. The structure of claim 1, including:

said card means having a region specifying an additive mathematicaloperation to be performed by the operator integer upon such operandintegers and containing indicia defining the result of such operation inan addition field in said region of the-card allocated to such operandintegers.

3. The structure of claim 1, including:

said card means having a region specifying a subtractive mathematicaloperation to be performed by the operator region of the card allocatedto such operand integers.

5. The structure of claim 1, including:

each of said card means specifying a divisive mathematical operation tobe performed by the operator integer upon such operand integers andcontaining indicia defining the result of such operation in a divisionfield in the region of the card allocated to such operand integers.

1. An arithmetic game played for education and entertainment,comprising: a plurality of arithmetic card means, each of said cardmeans having a value specified by an operator integer and a mathematicaloperation, and further having a plurality of operand integers, andfurther being divided into a plurality of fields, each of said fieldsallocated respectively to one of said plurality of operand integers andsaid operator integer, and each of said fields being further dividedinto a plurality of regions, each of said regions allocated to amathematical operation performable by the operator integer upon theoperand integer allocated to said field ad containing indicia definingthe result of such mathematical operation, and further including anaperture in the field of the mathematical operation of the region ofsaid card allocated to such operator integer, whereby the players of thegame sequentially superimpose a preselected one of said card means onthe card means previously played and determine the value and score forthe play by inspecting the indicia visible through the aperture in thepreselected card most recently played.
 2. The structure of claim 1,including: said card means having a region specifying an additivemathematical operation to be performed by the operator integer upon suchoperand integers and containing indicia defining the result of suchoperation in an addition field in said region of the card allocated tosuch operand integers.
 3. The structure of claim 1, including: said cardmeans having a region specifying a subtractive mathematical operation tobe performed by the operator integer upon such operand integers andcontaining indicia defining the result of such operation in asubtraction field in said region of the card allocated to such operandintegers.
 4. The structure of claim 1, including: said card means havinga region specifying a multiplicative mathematical operation to beperformed by the operator integer upon such operand integers andcontaining indicia defining the result of such operation in a field inthe region of the card allocated to such operand integers.
 5. Thestructure of claim 1, including: each of said card means specifying adivisive mathematical operation to be performed by the operator integerupon such operand integers and containing indicia defining the result ofsuch operation in a division field in the region of the card allocatedto such operand integers.